Modular wire guard

ABSTRACT

A modular assembly for protectively enclosing guy wires of the type used to brace utility poles or the like. The guard assembly comprises a plurality of substantially identical interlocking modular units. Each modular unit is formed of a pair of interlocking half shell sections that are snapped together about the guy wire.

United States Patent [191 Taylor 1 Dec. 16, 1975 MODULAR WIRE GUARD [75] Inventor: Philip W. Taylor, Howell, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Taylor Industries, Inc., Howell,

Mich.

22 Filed: May 31,1974

21 Appl. No.: 475,153

[52] US. Cl 116/114 R; 40/128; 52/147; 350/105 [51] Int. C1. E04H 12/20; 001D 21/04 [58] Field of Search 116/2, 114 R; 256/3, 4; 40/128; 52/147; 174/92, 136; 350/105 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,709,556 4/1929 Blackburn 52/147 1,765,823 6/1930 Burke 2,978,075 4/1961 Newton 52/147 3,267,805 8/1966 Ackerman 350/ 105 3,325,591 6/1967 Wahl 174/92 X 3,425,456 2/1969 Schibig 174/136 X 3,785,337 1/1974 Flowerday 116/114 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 464,059 4/1937 United Kingdom 256/4 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Queisser Assistant Examiner-Daniel M. Yasich Attorney, Agent, or Firml-Iauke, Patalidis & Dumont 57| ABSTRACT A modular assembly for protectively enclosing guy wires of the type used to brace utility poles or the like. The guard assembly comprises a plurality of substantially identical interlocking modular units. Each modular unit is formed of a pair of interlocking half shell sections that are snapped together about the guy wire.

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 MODULAR WIRE GUARD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to protective coverings for elongated members and more particularly to guards that are used for increasing the visibility, by increasing the surface area, of guy wires such as are used to brace utility poles or the like.

II. Description of the Prior Art When utility poles are installed it is sometimes necessary to brace them with guy wires having one end anchored to the ground and the other end attached to the pole proximate its top. The lower end of the guy wire often poses a serious collision hazard to persons, animals and vehicles which may inadvertently contact the guy wire. The hazard is attributable to the fact that guy wires are generally of small diameter and highly tensioned. As such, they constitute a structure which is almost rigid, not highly visible, and capable of exerting high forces per unit area against any colliding object.

Many prior art device have been developed for increasing the surface area and visibility of guy wires. Those devices include grooved wooden blocks strung along the guy wire, stamped half round elongated metal shields clamped to the guy wire, and one-piece tubular plastic extrusions that are slit to allow engagement about the guy wire. There are many problems associated with those prior art devices. Wooden blocks rot, are attacked by insects, require painting, are flammable, and are easily broken off. Elongated stamped metal guards only enclose a portion of the cable and in addition to being heavy and expensive to manufacture, they are costly and cumbersome to store, transport and install. An extruded plastic guy wire guard must have sufficient torsional rigidity to prevent it from becoming twisted about the guy wire. To achieve an acceptable level of rigidity it is necessary to use a heavier wall than would otherwise be required. This additional material, when combined with usually required secondary manufacturing operations, results in a guy wire guard of substantial cost.

Most of the guy wire guards known in the prior art require hand tools to install. Although some guards are easier to install than others, it is a real disadvantage in cold or otherwise inclement weather thatany tool at all be required to install a guy wire guard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the problems and limitations associated with the prior art devices mentioned above. It does so by providing a guy wire guard formed of a plurality of tubular modular units which are manually assembled without tools around a guy wire in such a way that the individual modular units are interconnected end to end for forming a protective guy wire guard assembly of any desired length.

Each modular unit is made of a pair of substantially identical half shell sections. Each of the sections is provided with integral means for interconnecting one section to another section to form a tubular modular unit. Each modular unit is provided with integral means disposed at each end for interconnection with adjacent modular units.

The visibility of the guy wire assembly is further enhanced, if so desired, by. forming the assembly of individual modular units of differing colors or by providing the modular units with incident light reflective means. Each individual tubular modular unit is loosely disposed around the guy wire on which it is mounted so as to tend to rotatably deflect an object colliding with the guy wire. v a

The invention provides a'guy wire guard assembly made of individual modular units which are cheap to manufacture by automated molding processes. Enough space is provided in the interior of each tubular modular unit to accept the eye of the bolt used to anchor the lower end of a guy wire. I In addition, the guy wire guard modular units of the invention, being preferably molded of a plastic dielectric material, provide good electrical insulation which may be advantageous in some installations, and they are unaffected by inclement weather, moisture, mildew, and atmospheric pollutants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is now made to the drawings in which like or equivalent elements appearing in more than one FIGURE are referred to by the same reference characters, and in which:

FIG; 1 is a side view of a modular guy wire guard .assembly installed on the lower portion of an inclined guy wire bracing a utility pole or the like;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the lower portion of an anchored guy wire provided with a guard assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a guy wire modular unit section according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the section of FIG. 3 as seen from line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged composite of two juxtaposed section cross-sections as viewed along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 which best illustrates the way two sections are used to form a modular unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, a modular guy wire guard assembly 10 formed from a plurality of substantially identical individual modular units 12 disposed interlocked end to end, is shown protectively enclosing the lower portion of an inclined guy wire 14. The lower end of the guy wire 14 is attached to an anchor eye bolt 16 which is firmly secured in the ground 18. The upper end of the guy wire 14 is connected to a clamp 20 which is attached to a utility pole 22 or the like. The lower end of the utility pole 22 is firmly embedded in the ground 18. The guy wire 14 is used to brace the utility pole 22 against unequal loads which may be applied to the upper portion of the utility pole 22.

The general appearance of a guy wire guard assembly is best illustrated at FIG. -2. Each tubular modular unit 12 has a central cylindrical portion 24 and a pair of conical end portions 26 and 28. These conical end portions 26 and 28 are integrally formed at both ends of the central cylindrical portion 24, with circumferentially disposed transitional ridges or steps 30 and 32, respectively, being formed between the ends of the central portion 24 and the end portions 26 and 28. The ends of each modular unit have separate male and female configurations to allow a positive but non-rigid inner connection between adjacent modular units.

The female-end of a modular unit 12 has an end surcular aperture 36 through which the guy wire 14 3 passes. The male end of a modular unit 12 has an end surface 38 which is provided with an integral cylindrical neck 40'disposed along the longitudinal axis of the modular unit. The cylindrical neck 40 is provided with an axially aligned bore 42 configured to allow passage of the guy wire 14 therethrough. An outwardly extending flange 44 is integral with the cylindrical neck 40 and is disposed about the periphery of the bore 42. The interrelationship between these male and female modular end structures will be further described hereinafter.

The modular units are substantially hollow and, as shown in FIG. 2, are capable of containing the head 46 of the anchor eye bolt 16, a guy wire strain relief bracket 48 about which a length of the guy wire 14 is looped, and a guy wire clamp 50.

Each individual guy wire guard module 12 is formed from a pair of mated, interlocking sections. It is to be understood that this invention may be successfully practiced using a pair of mating sections which are not identical. However, the sections illustrated in the accompanying FIGS. 2-5 are of the type wherein two substantially identical sections are used for forming a mod ular unit.

When reference is made to structural features of modular forming sections 'which correspond to structural features of a complete modular unit which have been hereinbefore referenced and described, then these features are identified by the same reference numeral followed by the suffix a.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a modular forming section 12a which clearly shows four integral barbed prongs 52. In FIG. 4, which is a bottom view of the section as seen from lines 44 of FIG. 3, four integral barbed prong receptacles 54 can be seen. These integral barbed prong receptacles 54 are disposed to receive barbed prongs 52 when two sections 12a are matingly positioned as is shown in FIG. to form a modular unit 12. As can best be seen in FIG. 5 each barbed prong receptacle 54 is provided with a lip 58 which is engageable with a surface 56 on barbed prong 52 when a pair of sections 12a are assembled to form a modular unit 12.

Each barbed prong 52 has an inclined surface 60 which contacts an inner surface 62 on a corresponding barbed prong receptacle 54 as a mated pair of sections are pressed together during assembly. The inner surface 62 presses against the inclined surface 60 deflecting both the barbed prong 52 and the surface 62. This deflection continues until the surface 56 overshoots the lip 58 at which point the deflected prong 52 and the surface 62 snap back to their original position. The engagement between corresponding lips 58 and surfaces 56 in a mated pair of module forming sections 12a functions to securely and rigidly interlock one section 12a to the other section 12a forming a guard modular unit 12 which is not intended to be disassembled.

A modular guy wire guard assembly is formed by positioning the female end surface of a section 34a adjacent the male end surface 38 of a modular unit 12 as is shown in FIG. 2. The neck 40 on modular unit 12 is receivable by the semicircular aperture 36a in the female end surface 34a of the modular forming section 12a. The outside diameter of the outwardly projecting flange 44 is greater than the inside diameter of the semicircular aperture 36a in the female end surface 34a. When a second modular unit forming section 12a is interlockingly assembled with the section as shown and positioned in FIG. 2, the flange 44 of the first mentioned modular unit is positively retained within the in- 4 terior of the newly formed modular unit forming a modular guy wire guard assembly 10. This procedure of assembling new modular units so as to interconnect them with adjacent modular units may be performed with as many units as is required to form a modular guy wire guard assembly of any desired length.

The individual modular units 12 which comprise a guy wire guard assembly 10 are free to rotate with respect to one another about the guy wire 14 on which they are installed. The relative rotatability of the modular units 12 comprising assembly 10 is accomplished by providing appropriate clearances between the outside diameter of the guy wire 14 and the inside diameter of the bore 42 and between the inside diameter of aperture 36 and the outside diameter of the neck 40. These clearances not only allow a glancing blow to the protected guy wire to be rotatably deflected but also allow the assembly to move flex with the guy wire as the guy wire flexes.

Preferably the sections 12a used to form the individual modular units 12 are manufactured by an injection molding process from plastic resins such as polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, and the like. It is to be understood that these sections can also be made from light metals. The sections 12a may be made from a transparent material and their inner surfaces 64 configured to reflect incident light in much the same manner as the inner surfaces of automotive tail lights are configured. The exterior surface of the central cylindrical portion 24 on a modular unit 12 may be treated with a coating of reflective glass beads to enhance the night visibility of the modular unit. The modular units 12 may be either painted or molded in different colors and various colors alternated to form an assembly 10, whereby the visibility of the assembly is further increased. If it is desired to electrically insulate the guy wire 14 from any inadvertently contacting objects, then the sections 12a are formed from dielectric material.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations, and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art; however, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A modular guard assembly for protecting and enhancing the visibility of a length of wire, said assembly comprising a plurality of individual modular units disposed end to end about said length of wire, each of said units comprising:.

a pair of mating half shell sections adapted to snap together and peripherally loosely enclose said wire; means integral with said half shell sections for permanently interlockingly connecting said half shell sections in mated relationship, said means comprising: a barbed prong on one half shell section, and a corresponding lip on said mating half shell section for engaging said barbed prong; and means at each end of said modular unit for nonrigidly interconnecting adjacent modular units for forming said assembly.

2. The modular guard assembly of claim 1 wherein said modular unit comprises means for reflecting incident light.

3. The modular guard assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of the exterior surface of said modular unit is provided with glass beads for reflecting incident light.

4. The modular guard assembly of claim 1 wherein each pair of mating half shell sections comprises two substantially identical half shell sections.

5. The modular guard assembly of claim 1 wherein said-non-rigid interconnecting means comprises:

anoutwardly radially extending flange disposed at an end of said modular unit;

an inwardly radially extending lip disposed at the other end of said modular unit, said lip extending over said outwardly extending flange on an adjacent modular unit.

6. The modular guard assembly of claim 1 wherein said mating half shell sections are made of molded plastic.

7. A modular wire guard unit for protectively enclosing a length of wire comprising:

a pair of mating half shell sections adapted to snap together and peripherally loosely enclose said length of wire;

means integral with said half shell sections for permanently interlockingly connecting said pair of half shell sections in mated relationship, said integral interlocking means comprising:

a barbed prong on one half shell section, and a corresponding lip on said mating half shell section for engagement by said barbed prong; and means integral with said modular guard unit for providing a non-rigid longitudinal interconnection of a plurality of substantially identical modular guard units in an end-to-end relationship.

8. The modular guard unit of claim 7 further comprising means for reflecting incident light.

9. The modular guard unit of claim 7 wherein a portion of the exterior surface of said modular guard unit is treated with glass beads for reflecting incident light.

10. The modular guard unit of claim 7 wherein said mating half shell sections are substantially identical.

11. The modular wire guard unit of claim 7 wherein said mating half shell sections are made of molded plastic.

12. The modular guard unit of claim 7 wherein said non-rigid interconnecting means comprises:

an outwardly radially extending flange disposed at an end of said modular unit; and

an inwardly radially extending lip disposed at the other end of said modular unit, said lip engageable over the outwardly extending flange of an adjacent modular unit whereby said flange is non-rigidly interlockingly retained by said lip.

13. The modular guard unit of claim 12 wherein said modular unit comprises a cylindrical body portion and a pair of integral conical end portions each having its end of larger diameter disposed at an end of said cylindrical body portion. 

1. A modular guard assembly for protecting and enhancing the visibility of a length of wire, said assembly comprising a plurality of individual modular units disposed end to end about said length of wire, each of said units comprising: a pair of mating half shell sections adapted to snap together and peripherally loosely enclose said wire; means integral with said half shell sections for permanently interlockingly connecting said half shell sections in mated relationship, said means comprising: a barbed prong on one half shell section, and a corresponding lip on said mating half shell section for engaging said barbed prong; and means at each end of said modular unit for nonrigidly interconnecting adjacent modular units for forming said assembly.
 2. The modular guard assembly of claim 1 wherein said modular unit comprises means for reflecting incident light.
 3. The modular guard assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of the exterior surface of said modular unit is provided with glass beads for reflecting incident light.
 4. The modular guard assembly of claim 1 wherein each pair of mating half shell sections comprises two substantially identical half shell sections.
 5. The modular guard assembly of claim 1 wherein said non-rigid interconnecting means comprises: an outwardly radially extending flange disposed at an end of said modular unit; an inwardly radially extending lip disposed at the other end of said modular unit, said lip extending over said outwardly extending flange on an adjacent modular unit.
 6. The modular guard assembly of claim 1 wherein said mating half shell sections are made of molded plastic.
 7. A modular wire guard unit for protectively enclosing a length of wire comprising: a pair of mating half shell sections adapted to snap together and peripherally loosely enclose said length of wire; means integral with said half shell sections for permanently interlockingly connecting said pair of half shell sections in mated relationship, said integral interlocking means comprising: a barbed prong on one half shell section, and a corresponding lip on said mating half shell section for engagement by said barbed prong; and means integral with said modular guard unit for providing a non-rigid longitudinal interconnection of a plurality Of substantially identical modular guard units in an end-to-end relationship.
 8. The modular guard unit of claim 7 further comprising means for reflecting incident light.
 9. The modular guard unit of claim 7 wherein a portion of the exterior surface of said modular guard unit is treated with glass beads for reflecting incident light.
 10. The modular guard unit of claim 7 wherein said mating half shell sections are substantially identical.
 11. The modular wire guard unit of claim 7 wherein said mating half shell sections are made of molded plastic.
 12. The modular guard unit of claim 7 wherein said non-rigid interconnecting means comprises: an outwardly radially extending flange disposed at an end of said modular unit; and an inwardly radially extending lip disposed at the other end of said modular unit, said lip engageable over the outwardly extending flange of an adjacent modular unit whereby said flange is non-rigidly interlockingly retained by said lip.
 13. The modular guard unit of claim 12 wherein said modular unit comprises a cylindrical body portion and a pair of integral conical end portions each having its end of larger diameter disposed at an end of said cylindrical body portion. 